Change the Default Search Page
By: Arie SlobInternet Explorer uses http://home.microsoft.com/search/search.asp as the default page when you press the search button from the menu.
If you downloaded a customized version which uses a different search page, here is how to set it to the Microsoft Page:
- Start the Registry Editor
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Internet Explorer \ Main
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Double click the Search Page, and change the URL to:
(To make it more easy for you to copy/paste, we've put the string in a text box). -
If you have a Search Bar key, make sure the URL is:
- Also go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Microsoft \ Internet Explorer \ Main
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Double click the Default_Search_URL, and change the URL to:
- Close the Registry editor and restart Internet Explorer
Alternatively you can download this registry patch. Save it to your desktop, then just double-click to import the registry info in your registry.
There is another Key in the registry which controls the default search page, so if the solution above didn't work, try also this key:
- Start the Registry Editor
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Internet Explorer \ SearchUrl
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The (Default) key should have the value:
(To make it more easy for you to copy/paste, we've put the string in a text box).
Alternatively you can download this registry patch. Save it to your desktop, then just double-click to import the registry info in your registry.
Note: The Language setting also controls which search page is shown!
To change the Language setting:
- Select the Internet icon from the Control Panel
- Press the Languages button
- Now you can Add, Remove or re-arrange Languages
- To see the effect on the default search page, select a language, close the Internet Properties and start Internet Explorer
When you remove all languages, you can pick your favorite search engine from the Microsoft Site, which will be added to your list on the left search bar. You can add more than one engine, they will be added to the drop-down list.
